Method of and apparatus for amalgamating metals



E. W. MYERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AMALGAMATING METALS.

Patented Nov. 21

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, 1921.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

UNITED STATES means EDGAR W. MYERS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AE/IALGAMATING IMETA-Lfi.

Application filed June 14-, 1921. Serial No. 477,490.

To all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. ldrnus, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Amalgamating Metals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the extraction of metals from their ores by amalgamation, my object being the extraction of the metals to the maximum degree, and to attain this object my invention consists in apparatus and method described by or included within the scope of the. appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, considered as apparatus, and available for the practice of my'method;

Fig. 2 is a frontview;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing one of the two parts or halves of the apparatus separated- Briefly described, my invention comprehends a mercury receptable into which the pulp containing the metal to be amalgamated is blown or forced by a jet or current of'heated water, the metal, gold for example,

being thoroughly scoured or cleaned by the action of the heated water as well as brought into intimate contact with the mercury in' the chamber, the conditions being thus such as to effect the maximum recovery of the metal from the pulp, the amalgamation being promoted by the heated condition of the metal and also by a heated condition of the mercury because the chamber .containing the mercury is also subjected to heat, as by means of a steam acket surrounding the chamber. The mercury chamber, 10, preferably of oval form, is enclosed within two castings, 11 and 12, respectively, of substantially similar form placed one above the other so that one-half the chamber is in each and which where they abut horizontally have flanges, 13, by which they are detachably bolted together. The upper casting, 11, has near one end in its top a pulp inlet, 14, from which a passage, 15, extends vortically, and then horizontally where it opens tangentially into the mercury chamher at the bottom thereof, and extending into such passage where it turns horizontally from its vertical portion is a water spraying nozzle, 16, that receives hot water from a pipe, 17, provided with a valve, 18. Thus pulp entering the passage, as from a hopper that delivers it into the pulp intake, will be acted upon by the hot spray striking it within the passage and will be blown or forced into the mercury chamber in a direction tangential thereof. By this treatment, the metal in the pulp will first be cleaned or scoured by the hot spray and in a clean condition will be thrown into contact with the mercury in the chamber and thus a condition produced that favors to the highest degree the amalgamating process. The two castings, 11 and 12, are provided with communicating passages in their walls that constitute a jacket, 19 for the circulation of some heat medium, steam, hot air, or hot water, an inlet, 20, and an outlet, 21, for the heat medium being-pro vided at appropriate points. By means of the jacket, the mercury is raised to a temperature which promotes the amalgamation.

From the mercury or amalgamating chamber a passage, 22, extends upward and then horizontally outward where it communicates with an outlet, 23, on the upper side of the upper casting, 11, and at the end opposite the pulp intake. The pulp and water, after making the circuit of the mercury chamber, enter the outlet passage and are discharged through the outlet, but the heavier amalgam remains inthe amalgamat ing chamber, its removal being effected by turning the apparatus over until it runs out of the outlet passage. To facilitate this operation, the lower casting, 12, near one end is pivoted by trunnions, 23, at opposite sides in hearings in standards or brackets, 24. At its other end and on its underside,

the lower casting, 12, has pivoted to it a vertical, slotted bar, 25, which cooperates with a clamp, 26, suitably mounted and supported, by which the apparatus is held in operating position, such clamp being loosened to allow the swinging over of the apparatus, as before described, to pour out the contents of the mercury chamber. The clamp and slotted bar. also constitute an adjustable support for the apparatus which enables adjustment of the angle of the level or top surface of the mercury with relation to the, hot water jet which projects the particles of gold or other metal against the mercury, it being desirable to vary the angle according to the fineness or coarseness of the pulp being treated. Vfith ores pulverized as line as 250 mesh, for example, the particles being so light and tine, an angle of:

about 80 of the stream to the mercury surface may be necessary, where as heavy ores pulverized to 40 mesh pulp formed of to the mercury at an angle 1- mercury; and the use of hot water for directing the pulp to the mercury 1s advanthat it prevents chilling of the mercury. A temperature of the mercury above 90 is desirable. The mercury when thus heated expands and is therefore in a condition that highly favors the amalgamating action.

What I claim is:

1. An amalgamating method which consists in subjecting pulp to the action of a heated jet or spray directed towards mercury in a suitable receptacle and with a force that causes arotary movement of the contents of the receptacle.

2. An amalgamating method which consists in subjecting pulp to the action'of a heated jet or spray directed towards heated mercury in a suitable receptacle and with a tageous in forcethat causes a rotary movement of the I contents of the receptacle.

3. An amalgamating method which con sists in having mercury in a receptacle with I an inlet and an outlet and directing pulp into such receptacle and into contact with mercury therein and causing a rotary movement of the pulp in the receptacle in the space above the mercury by the action'of a jet of heated fluid under pressure.

4:. An amalgamating apparatus comprising a mercury receptacle, means for deliverlet thereto, and means for blowing pulp into contact with the mercury in the receptacle. 6. An amalgamating apparatus comprising a member having a mercury receptacle and a pulp passage leading through the member to such receptacle at the bottom thereof, a pivotal support for said member, and means for swinging the receptacle at different angles vertically on said pivotal support.

7. An amalgamating apparatus comprising a member having amercury receptacle of circular form, a pulp passage leading into said receptacle tangentially atthe bottom, an outlet tangentially upward from a point adjacent said inlet, and a pivotal support for said member permit-ting. motion thereof to an extent to cause discharge of the receptacle contents through said outlet.

8. An amalgamating apparatus comprising a member having a circular mercury receptacle, a pulp inlet that leads downward and horizontally inward to said receptacle at the bottom, a fluid nozzle extending into thehorizontal portion of said inlet, an out-e let from said receptacle that leads upward and horizontally, and a pivot-a1 support for said member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDGAR w. MYERS.

from the receptacle leading. 

